Zee is joining as Investment Head – Venture & Early-Stage Financing Vehicles at FSDAi, with a focus on new and alternative solutions to finance SMEs.
Prior to joining FSDAi, she was a Director at the Collaborative for Frontier Finance, focusing on the Early Stage Capital Providers cluster. She has two decades of investment experience working in Africa, London and New York. Her career includes co-founding Victus Global Capital, an organisation focused on transforming agriculture and empowering women in Africa through impact investment, capacity building, and increased trade. She was the Managing Director of Momentum Africa Investments, South Africa’s third-largest life insurance company’s initiative to take Africa investments to international investors and the Chief Investment Officer of Momentum Investment Consulting.
Zee is a CFA charterholder, has an Executive MBA from the University of Cape Town Business School and an MSc in Sustainable Development from the University of Sussex.
Kweku has over 6 years of experience in engineering, technology, and finance, with a track record of working with startups, sovereigns, and corporations across sub-Sahara Africa. He has extensive experience in deal origination, stakeholder management and execution of transactions within the region.
Most recently, Kweku was Vice President (Investment Banking), at IC Africa where he led various M&A, Equity Capital and Debt Capital Market transactions across the continent. Beyond traditional finance, Kweku has directly invested in multiple tech startups across the region, and has advised and spearheaded the implementation of innovative tech platforms in agric, fintech and insurance sectors across West Africa.
Kweku holds a BSc in Computer Engineering (Hons)
Hobbies include tennis, swimming, music curation and DJing
Sharon is an investment professional, passionate about the intersection of financial services, inclusivity, and technology, and their collective economic and social impact on individuals’ livelihoods.
Her extensive background spans across Corporate Finance, Investment Banking and Transaction Advisory, serving both the private and public sectors.
Prior to joining FSD Africa, she served as a Senior Financial Analyst at KPMG, where she led and supported Buy-side and Sell-side Financial Due Diligence, Valuations, Financial Modelling, Market Studies as well as Mergers & Acquisition (M&A) Transactions. She served clients across Sub-Saharan Africa in the Banking, Insurance, Fintech, Logistics, Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture, and Pharmaceutical sectors, with a cumulative deal size of over USD 100 million. She also managed Financial Reporting, Quality Risk Management, and Knowledge Management within the Strategy and Deal Advisory unit at KPMG.
Sharon holds a BSc in Financial Engineering from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and professional certification in Financial Modelling and Valuation Analyst (FMVA).
Moreover, she is also a data science enthusiast with a technical skill-set encompassing R, SQL, Advanced Excel and Power Bi.
Nicolas Kirui has 3 years’ experience working in management consulting and financial advisory with a proven track record in finance and business analysis.
In his most recent role as a Carbon Investment Officer at BURN Manufacturing, Nicolas has been instrumental in facilitating fundraising for carbon projects through developing financial models, tracking global carbon market industry trends and facilitating due diligence between prospective investors and internal teams.
Prior to this, Nicolas worked as a Senior Analyst at Open Capital playing a pivotal role in raising capital for various projects across SSA. His contributions included financial modelling, investor outreach, and support for capital raises that had a significant impact on the livelihoods of farmers and the growth of businesses.
Nicolas Kirui holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Statistics from The University of Nairobi. He also holds certifications in Business and Financial Modeling from Wharton and a Financial Modeling Diploma from Kubicle. Additionally, Nicolas achieved a top 90th percentile ranking in the CFA Level I examination, showcasing his dedication to advancing his financial expertise and skills.
Waithera finds purpose in driving positive change through responsible investing and is committed to contributing to inclusive, impactful growth through the integration of ESG and gender in investment decision-making.
She has over ten years of experience in ESG and gender risk management and project management. In her current role, Waithera conducts ESG and gender assessments across a portfolio of high-impact investments. Her work focuses on embedding best practices to strengthen investment performance and enhance stakeholder value. She also supports the implementation of ESG and gender action plans, working closely with investees to ensure meaningful progress and alignment with impact objectives.
Before transitioning to the investment space, Waithera led large-scale youth-focused programs in Kenya, where she advocated for adolescent reproductive health. Through this work, she mentored over 1,200 young people and supported more informed, healthier life choices among adolescents by working closely with local leaders and institutions to strengthen community support systems.
Waithera holds a degree in Mathematics from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and is pursuing a Master of Science in Management and Organisational Development. She continues to develop her skills in sustainable investing and impact strategy with the goal of becoming a leader in sustainable finance.
Golda holds a bachelors degree from Strathmore University where she majored in Accounts. She is also Systems Application and Products in Data Processing (SAP) certified. She is currently pursuing her Certified Public Accountants (CPA) certification.
Golda has had previous experience in customer relations, office administration, accounting and finance, and entrepreneurship in different organizational sectors. She is well seasoned in establishing and coordinating projects and participatory engagements aimed at ensuring quality and innovative solutions.
As a Programme Assistant, she contributes to FSD Africas strategy by supporting in administration and smooth coordination of projects.
Golda grew up in Mombasa but currently resides and works in Nairobi. She enjoys travelling, swimming, spending time with those close to her and exploring new adventures.
Ian has over 8 years of experience spanning banking, insurance, and investments.
Before joining FSD Africa Investments, he served in a dual capacity as a Risk & Compliance Officer and Finance Officer at Mayfair Insurance Company Limited. In this role, he was responsible for risk identification and assessment, preparing risk reports for the Finance and Risk Committee, ensuring regulatory compliance, and coordinating internal audit processes. He played a key role in implementing internal policies and strengthening internal controls to meet anti-money laundering (AML) and data protection requirements.
Alongside his risk and compliance responsibilities, he supported the finance function through preparation of client account statements, processing commissions for brokers and agents (including issuing the related statements), performing bank and client account reconciliations, administering staff medical insurance payments, accounting for receipts, and maintaining claims-paid statistics.
Prior to this, he worked at I&M Bank Limited as a Trade Finance Officer within the Trade Finance Department, where he was primarily responsible for the issuance of Letters of Credit and provided technical advisory support on a range of trade finance products, advising clients on how these solutions could be structured to support and grow their businesses.
Ian holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the United States International University – Africa and a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from the University of Nairobi. He also holds an International Diploma in Enterprise Risk Management from the Institute of Risk Management (IRM) and is a Certified Member of the Institute of Risk Management (CMIRM).
In his free time, Ian is an avid gamer and moviegoer who also enjoys watching football and spending quality time with his family.
Alphonce has 7 years’ experience working in investment banking and investment management, originating and executing highly structured, and “difficult” marquee transactions across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Prior to joining FSD Africa, Alphonce was a Corporate Finance Analyst at Genghis Capital Investment Bank, where he successfully led various DCM and advisory mandates in the financial services, agriculture, and real estate sectors. Before that, he worked at NIC Capital Investment Bank as an Equity Research Analyst covering energy and TMT sectors and fixed income; and as a Corporate Finance Analyst executing DCM, ECM, and M&A mandates.
Alphonce holds a Bachelor of Real Estate degree from the University of Nairobi, a Certified Public Accountant (K) qualification, passed the CFA level I exam, and currently pursuing his MBA at the United States International University- Africa.
May has over eight years experience in corporate & structured finance, impact investing, fund & portfolio management and investment advisory.
Prior to joining FSD Africa, May was part of the AlphaMundi Group Investment team where she worked on the full investment cycle from origination, due diligence, deal structuring, term negotiation, legal contracting as well as portfolio monitoring. Previously, May was at I-DEV International, leading strategy and investment (buy-side and sell-side transactions) advisory engagements for Sub-Saharan African businesses. Earlier in her career, May worked as a Corporate Finance Analyst for Burbidge Capital, where she participated in both private and public fundraising transaction structuring various financial instruments including debt, mezzanine, quasi-equity and equity. May holds a BSc in Actuarial Science from the University of Nairobi, a Certified Public Accountant (K) qualification, completed CFA level I and currently finalizing her MBA at Strathmore Business School.
In her role at FSD Africa, she is involved in the execution of the investment process, responsible for investee monitoring and reporting, as well as engaging with the investee technical assistance program execution and monitoring.
Judith is responsible for providing risk leadership in her role at FSD Africa Investments, which involves conducting risk analysis on potential investment opportunities, risk reviews of ongoing investments, risk reporting and monitoring among other risk-related assignments.
Prior to joining FSD Africa, Judith was the Group Risk Manager at Centum Investment Company Plc. She has built her career in risk management within the financial sector having worked in insurance, investments and finance. Judith is a champion for Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), an integrated approach to risk management that links with strategy and performance. She aspires to make a positive impact to businesses by providing best-practice ERM expertise to firms within the financial sector.
Judith earned an MSc. degree in Actuarial Management from Cass Business School (City, University of London). She also holds a BSc. (First Class Honours) degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Nairobi. She is a Certified Enterprise Risk Manager with IABFM and is currently pursuing a dual actuarial certification, FIA and CERA, from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (UK).
Passionate about economic and leadership development within Africa, Judith has participated in various targeted initiatives such as mentorship of young entrepreneurs. She is also an alumna of the Africa Leadership Xcelerator Program (2019).
During her free time, you will most likely find her reading a book, practising yoga, travelling, listening to music, or spending quality time with her loved ones. She currently resides in Nairobi.